Andrew elder



INVENTOR (No Model.)

A. ELDER. PIPE HEADER AND AUTOMATIC AIR. VALVE.

Patented Mar. 30, 1897.

WIT/N58858:

UNITE TATES ATENT Prion,

ANDREW ELDER, OF IRVINGTON, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE LORD 8: BURNHAM COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PIPE-HEADER AND AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 579,865, dated March 30, 1897. Application filed October 31, 1896- Serial No. 610,684. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW ELDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Irvington, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Headers and Automatic Air-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is applicable more particularly to a hot-water heating system rather than to any other; and it relates more particularly to the header used in the pipe-coils and to the automatic means placed within the header, which permits the escape or admission of air therefrom as the water rises or falls in the pipe system in order to keep up a perfect circulation.

My invention consists of a header embracing all the pipes of the coil, provided with an opening in its upper part normally above the water in the header and a valve controlling the opening. The valve is provided with a float which is raised onallowed to drop according to the rise or fall of the water in the system, which movements open or close the valve.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a header connected with a coil of six pipes. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is an end view.

In the said drawings,1 represents the header or expansion-chamber, 2 the coil of pipes of the hot-water or other system, and 3 at pipeunions at the other end of the coil,with which the flow and return pipes leading from the heater are connected.

The header or expansion-chamber 1 is cast in substantially the same form shown, it being varied to any extent according to the number of pipes to be used in the coil, and it is provided with an opening, as shown, over which the plate 6 fits.

The plate 6 is held over the opening by means of the bolts '7, and it is provided with a screw-threaded opening which is normally above the water-line in the header, in which the nipple end of a valve 8 fits. The valve,

which is for the purpose of providing an es cape or admission of air, may be of any desired construction or arrangement, and any form of float with a power-multiplying connection with the valve may be used for controlling it. In the form shown in the drawings the valve consists of a suitable casting having a closure 9 at one end and an opening 10, forming 'a communication between the interior of the header and the passage 11, which leads to the outside of the header. The valvestem 12 of the valve 13 has a bearing at each of the points 14 and 15, and it is connected with the arm 16 of the float 17. The full lines of the valve show it in open position, while the dotted lines indicate its closed position.

The operation of my device is as follows: Assuming that the coil is empty of water and the float-valve open, as the water enters the pipes it forces the air contained in them into the header, where it escapes through the valve. As the water enters the header the float is raised, and through the power-multiplyin g connection the valve is tightly closed, which prevents the further escape or entrance of air and the escape of any water. When the pipes are full of water and the header contains an amount suffleient to raise the float to close the valve, it is obvious that the circulation will be complete; but when the quantity of water is diminished through the usual causes air accumulates in the pipes and the header, and unless there is some escape provided the circulation will become broken. This is effectually provided for by the automatic arrangement described and shown, which at all times keeps the conditions for producing a perfect circulation. My device also overcomes the objections incident to the arrangement now employed, which requires the constant care of an attendant and are liable to cause great damage, if neglected.

My device is particularly adapted to the heating of greenhouses, which is generally done by hot water, in that the header may be placed entirely under the plant-tables, thereby saving valuable space, and by reason of the automatic arrangement within the header they do not require the same attention as do the open heaters or air-pipes commonly used, which occupy valuable space and very frequently overflow, causing damage to the fit and an opening located normally above plants. the water-line in the header, a valve for con- Having thus described my invention, the trolling said opening located within said body following is what I claim as new therein and portion and a float having a power-multiply- 5 desire to secure by Letters Patent: ing connection with the valve, substantially r5 In a heating system the combination of the as shown and for the purpose set forth. pipes of the system and a header in substan- ANDREW ELDER. tially the same plane as the pipes, said header Witnesses: being formed with a body portion having suit- \V ARREN 13. CRAW, 1o able openings in which the pipes of the coil FRED T. OAKES. 

